Thor and Peace

I'm worried that I've lost points on my geek card. I didn't get a chance to see Thor in the theaters. I didn't get to see Captain America in the theaters either. (Bought a blue '08 Dodge Avenger and named it Captain American though. Might be able to save some geek points on that one.) But I have been watching Disney XD's Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

I've learned a few things from Thor on that show. In the comic books, (and movie I'm told) Thor is cast out of Asgard (the home of the Norse gods) and sent to Midgard (earth) because he is cocky, stubborn and arrogant. And he is cast out of heaven and sent to live amongst the mortals to learn humility and the need to put others first.

But Thor in Disney XD's version is different. He values honor. He also has a heart for the people of Midgard. He wishes to protect them. He wishes to help them. In fact, he voluntarily leaves Asgard when asked to stay behind during Odin's yearly Odin Sleep. He refuses and goes to Midgard to battle and protect. Yes, he's a bit misguided. yes, he's a bit arrogant about it. But still he wants to do his best to help others.

I like that about him. And honestly, I try to do the same, of course with out Mjölnir of course (his hammer). I also try hard to push forward and to help and to do what I can. I have a great heart for the people out there in need of help. It's not a messiah complex or anything. I'm not out to save the people. But I want to make a dent to help those in need. Those who are hurting. Those who are struggling. Those who are in pain and can use the healing found in the Great Physician Jesus. (This is a Spiritual Sci-Fi Friday, remember). And I push hard. I give my all and I still falter.

The one thing about Thor is that he realized that he needed help too. In the Disney XD version, he sees that he needs to team up with others to fight off the baddies. And this leads to the formation of The Avengers (Wasp suggests that name because to her, it just sounds cool.). Alone, the Avengers can do okay. But together, they can do so much more.

And I have to remind myself of that. I'm not at this alone. There are others with me. There are others who are able to work with me to help those in need. Not only that, but in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the teammates help each other out personally. They encourage one another, they have fun with one another. They have each other's backs. And we all need this for our own spiritual, emotional and physical well being. We all need a team of people to help us, encourage us and fight the good fight with us.

I have that team with me here at my church I serve. I also have that team with me with my good friends all over the place. We encourage and help one another.

What's your team? Who encourages, supports and fights the fight with you?

Shhh... don't tell anyone.. but...

shhh.. come a bit closer... closer.. I TOOK THE DAY OFF!!

I know. I know. Weird huh? I actually did it. I didn't plan it. I really thought I was going to work today and then it just, well, happened. Now, I know, some think "Day off? A pastor only works once a week for an hour, two at most." I've been pushing through hard these last few weeks. I've been putting my hardest into my sermons. I've been working hard on visiting people, going to meetings, making phone calls, talking with people. And I was getting tired. I was trying to fit in working out, watching a show here or there and most importantly, trying really hard to spend time with my family.

And then, it happened. At the worst possible time too. I had a lot to do today. I was behind in my sermon work. I had done a lot of visiting with people this last week, I spent time trying to do some meetings and research. I also had one of THE worst cases of writer's block around. And then, this morning around a quarter to 7 I asked my sweet, wonderful, loving wife if I could just sleep a bit longer. I woke up at 8:45... I haven't done that in the longest time!! Then, to be nice, after I woke up, I told my wonderful wife to take a nap.

So, what'd I do when she went back to sleep? Did I get to sermonating? Did I start working on my late power point? Nope. I dinked on Facebook. I checked the stats on my blog (a number of hits from the States, some from Greece, a couple from Russia and Slovenia.. props to all of you) and then spent some time with the kiddos. I then had an amazing idea, I'll take the kiddos to Wal-Mart and do some shopping while my wife takes some time off. And I actually enjoyed my time.

When I cam home, I had a message from The Globe, our local newspaper, to do a religious op-ed piece. Then my pick up was finished being worked on and Grant, the owner of Select Services (on the corner of HWY 281 and 1st St/273rd/Harrison Rd in Corsica, SD.. they do great work) dropped it off personally at my house. To top it off, that blasted snow blower is fixed and was brought back (though I'm still a bit wary of using it). I then got to hit the gym and didn't have to feel rushed or anything...I even thought of writing this blog post.

At first, I chomped at the bit. I was anxious. I felt like I needed to work. And then I became worried that I'd start typing "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." I was torn between working hard for God and taking time to rest. I'm glad I chose to rest.

And now, as soon as I finish this blog post, I'm heading down to the basement to have a lightsaber fight with my son (take that Obi-Wan Kenobi).

So, what do I got to say after all of this? Part of being a Spiritual Musclehead is resting.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
(Genesis 1:31-2:3)

How can you take a day off and rest?

Teaching each other

Yesterday at the gym I saw something interesting.

As I was lifting, I looked over and saw a couple of teens lifting. One of the teens was struggling on the bench press, trying to lift too much. His friends either didn't know what to do or didn't have the strength to help him, for they were just standing around frozen. I started to head that way to help when an older gentleman came to his aide. (I say older, as in he was balding and looked older than me..real age unknown). I paused my music and listened in on his conversation with the teen. He began telling him how he needed to not over estimate how much he could bench but also encouraged him to keep trying to bench more. He then walked the teen through the proper steps of benching and how to gauge how much he could and could not bench.

I remember back in my weight training classes back in high school Mr. Festerling doing the same thing. He very patiently walked me and the others through weight lifting and proper form. What he taught me has stuck over the last 16+ years since. What was taught to me then has helped me in my pursuit of being healthy now.

I also started thinking of Eddie, Doyle, Merle and Bob, all older gentleman at church who walked me through my faith. They taught me what it meant to be a man of God. Through their actions, conversations and even instruction, they taught me what it meant to be a person of integrity, to be honest, to be loving, to be like Jesus in all I do.

This is what is commonly called in Christian circles discipleship. And it is important in the formation and development of our physical and spiritual health. In his book The New High Intensity Training, Ellington Darden laments how this type of discipleship has gone to the wayside in weight lifting. And I think it has gone to the wayside in our churches as well.

In my own pursuit of spiritual and physical health, I realize that I need to take the time to help others learn and grow in their own health but more importantly in their own spiritual journey. I think this is a charge to us all to do so.

As we work on getting healthy and as we grow in our spiritual journey and faith walk, we need to help others do the same.